Self-locking price tag

ABSTRACT

A self-locking price tag for attachment to articles of merchandise having a body with a plurality of transverse baffles. Each of the transverse baffles has an opening therethrough, all of which are in substantial alignment. An elongated member, fixed to the body, has on one end thereof a flat element on which to apply pricing information. The other end of the elongated member has a tip insertable through the openings in the transverse baffles so as to provide an attachment loop to receive merchandise. A plurality of outwardly and rearwardly disposed flexible barbs are provided on the elongated member adjacent the insertable tip. The openings in the transverse baffles are adapted to pass the flexible barbs therethrough when a pull of sufficient magnitude is exerted on the insertable tip. This permits the attachment loop being formed in the elongated member to be reduced in size so as to provide a suitable griping engagement with the merchandise being tagged. The flexible barbs on the elongated member cannot be drawn in a reverse direction through the openings in the transverse baffles without damaging the tag, thus making it readily apparent whenever the pricing information on the merchandise has been switched.

United States Patent Lonnee Sept. 10, 1974 SELF-LOCKING PRICE TAG Noble M. Lonnee, 2204 Woodview Dr., Riverview, Mich. 48197 Filed: June 8, 1973 Appl. No.: 368,308

Inventor:

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or FirmAdolph G. Martin ABSTRACT A self-locking price tag for attachment to articles of merchandise having a body with a plurality of transverse bafiles. Each of the transverse baffles has an opening therethrough, all of which are in substantial alignment. An elongated member, fixed to the body, has on one end thereof a flat element on which to apply pricing information. The other end of the elongated member has a tip insertable through the openings in the transverse baffles so as to provide an attachment loop to receive merchandise. A plurality of outwardly and rearwardly disposed flexible barbs are provided on the elongated member adjacent the insertable tip.

The openings in the transverse baffles are adapted to pass the flexible barbs therethrough when a pull of sufficient magnitude is exerted on the insertable tip. This permits the attachment loop being formed in the elongated member to be reduced in size so as to provide a suitable griping engagement with the merchandise being tagged. The flexible barbs on the elongated member cannot be drawn in a reverse direction through the openings in the transverse baffles without damaging the tag, thus making it readily apparent whenever the pricing information on the merchandise has been switched.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures SELF-LOCKING PRICE TAG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to price tags generally, and more particularly to a self-locking type of tag. Most of such price tags presently in use are relatively complex in structure, and consequently rather costly to produce. They also require considerable time to attach, and are not completely effective in preventing the switching of price tage on merchandise. The applicants construction by contrast is extremely simple, thereby rendering his tag inexpensive to produce, and relatively easy to manipulate and attach. In addition to these distinct advantages, the applicants self-locking price tag, when applied to merchandise, cannot be removed without damaging certain of the structural components, thereby providing readily detectable visual evidence of tampering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a body 10 having a series of transverse baffles 12, each provided with an opening 14 for slidably receiving therethrough, the forward end of an elongated member 16 attached to the body 10. A plurality of outwardly and rearwardly disposed flexible barbs 20, on the forward portion of the elongated member 16, are adapted to pass readily in one direction through the openings in the transverse baffles 12. Such flexible barbs 20, however, are designed to resist passage in the opposite direction through the openings 14 in the transverse baffles 12, so that the tag will be visibly damaged if it is removed from the merchandise to which it was originally attached. A flat element 22 is fixed on the other end of the elongated member 16 for receiving pricing information 24, which may be either imprinted thereon or otherwise suitably applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the price tag comprising the applicants invention, showing the locked position of the elongated member 16.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, taken on plane 22 in FIG. 1, showing the transverse baffles 12 in the body 10.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, taken substantially on plane 303 in FIG. 2, showing the characteristic angular shape of the body 10.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view, taken, substantially on plane 44 in FIG. 1, showing the relative size of the flexible barbs 20 on the elongated member 16.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a modification of the applicants invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, similar to FIG. 1, showing another modification of the applicants invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, showing the applicant's price tag attached to an item of merchandise 26.

CONSTRUCTION For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawing in which numeral 10 designates a body having an angular cross section. A plurality of transverse baffles 12 in the body 10, each has therethrough a central opening 14. An elongated flexible member 16 on the body 10 has on one end thereof, a tapered tip 18 to facilitate insertion through the central opening 14 in each of the transverse baffles 12.

Pairs of outwardly and rearwardly disposed flexible barbs 20 are provided on the elongated flexible member 16 adjacent the tapered tip 18. A flat circular element 22 is fixed on the other end of the elongated flexible member 16 for receiving pricing information, such as 24.

The modification of the applicants invention disclosed in FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 only in that the flexible barbs 20 on the elongated flexible member 16 are disposed in stag gered array rather than in pairs. In the modification of FIG. 6, the flexible barbs are disposed in a linear array on one side only of the elongated flexible member 16. In all other structural details, the two modifications disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6 are identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.

In practice, the applicants tag is preferably made of flexible and somewhat resilient material, such as plastic, so that the openings 14 in the transverse baffles 12 can expand slightly to facilitate the passage therethrough of the flexible barbs 20. However, it is only necessary to construct either the transverse baffles 12 or the barbs 20 of resilient and flexible material to insure satisfactory and proper functioning of the applicants tag.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structure characterizing the applicants invention herein disclosed; however, to facilitate a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, a discussion of the manner in which the device is used to fulfill its intended function is immediately hereinafter set forth.

USE AND OPERATION In use, appropriate pricing information is first applied to the flat element 22 on the elongated flexible member 16. The tag is then attached to an item of merchandise, such as the blouse 26 shown in FIG. 7. This is accomplished by passing the tapered tip 18, on the elongated flexible member 16, through a button hole in the blouse 26, and then inserting it through the central openings 14 in the transverse baffles 12.

A pull of sufficient magnitude is then applied to the tapered tip 18 so that the flexible: barbs 20 will deform to assure the broken line positions 28 shown in FIG. 1, as they are drawn through the central openings 14 in the transverse baffles 12. After the flexible barbs 20 have passed through the central openings 14, they return to their original shape, as indicated by the broken lines 30 in FIG. 1.

An attachement loop 32 is thereby formed in the elongated flexible member 16, as shown by the broken lines 34 in FIG. 1. In the event an attempt is made to pull the elongated flexible member 16 in a reverse direction through the transverse baffles 12, the flexible barbs 20 and the baffles 12 will be damaged thereby providing visible evidence of tampering with pricing information on the merchandise.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fullfilled a long felt need in the field of price tags, and that he has accordingly made a valuable contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the structural details of a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A self-locking price tag comprising a body, a series of transverse baffles on the body each having an opening therethrough, an elongated member attached intermediate the ends thereof to the body, a flat element on one end of the elongated member for receiving pricing information, a tip on the other end of the elongated member insertable through the openings in the baffles so as to provide an attachment loop in the elongated member, and a plurality of flexible barbs on the elongated member adjaccnt the tip which are passable through the openings in the transverse baffles when a pull of sufficient magnitude is applied to the tip on the elongated member. such barbs however being incapable of passing in a reverse direction through the openings in the transverse baffles without damaging the price tag and thus providing visible evidence of tampering. 

1. A self-locking price tag comprising a body, a series of transverse baffles on the body each having an opening therethrough, an elongated member attached intermediate the ends thereof to the body, a flat element on one end of the elongated member for receiving pricing information, a tip on the other end of the elongated member insertable through the openings in the baffles so as to provide an attachment loop in the elongated member, and a plurality of flexible barbs on the elongated member adjacent the tip which are passable through the openings in the transverse baffles when a pull of sufficient magnitude is applied to the tip on the elongated member, such barbs however being incapable of passing in a reverse direction through the openings in the transverse baffles without damaging the price tag and thus providing visible evidence of tampering. 